OFFENSE

The Dolphins have never carried four quarterback into the regular season, and I doubt they would unless Pennington, who is five months into rehabbing his surgically repaired right shoulder (or another of the quarterbacks) begins 2010 on the PUP. Thigpen, whom the Dolphins acquired for a 5th round pick, has trade value.

Brown will likely be back considering his tender would cost any suitors a first-round pick, and he’s recovering from a Lisfranc injury that might keep him out of the offseason conditioning program and summer workouts. Cobbs’ practice status also isn’t certain.

The Dolphins have one vacancy at receiver, and are looking for a ”chunk yards weapon” who can produce yards after catch plays. There’s also speculation the Dolphins have put out feelers on Ravens veteran Derrick Mason, and had exploratory talks about Tampa Bay receiver Antonio Bryant.

This is the Dolphins’ deepest unit, but there are still a couple of holes. The backup tackles need to step up and show they are developing. While Nate Garner and Donald Thomas will compete for the starting right guard spot, finding a veteran backup for Justin Smiley would be idea.

DEFENSE

Outside of Starks and Langford, every member of the defensive line unit merits a question mark. Soliai’s stint as Jason Ferguson’s replacement proves he’s not an ideal starting nose tackle. Merling hasn’t lived up to his draft status, and Lionel Dotson hasn’t done anything in his two seasons.

Linebackers (9)

SLB – Cameron Wake, Erik Walden, Brian Johnston

MIKE ILB – Karlos Dansby, J.D. Folsom

MOE ILB – Channing Crowder (Injured), Reggie Torbor

WLB – Charlie Anderson, Quentin Moses (TENDERED)

Unless the Dolphins are prepared to go into this season with Charlie Anderson and Cameron Wake as their starting outside linebacker, upgrading this position should be high on the priority list. Jason Taylor hopes to return, and this team could use his leadership. But even if he returns it’s highly likely that the Dolphins will double down on linebackers (one inside, and one outside) in the 2010 draft.

Secondary(8)

CB – Vontae Davis, Will Allen (Injured)

CB – Sean Smith, Jason Allen

FS – Chris Clemons, Nate Ness

SS - Yeremiah Bell, Tyrone Culver

Gibril Wilson’s release creates a glaring hole that Steelers safety Ryan Clark, who is visiting the team Monday, might be signed to address. Chris Clemons has promise, but it’s unlikely that he’s ready to handle a starting r role just yet. Nate Jones’ signing with Denver means the Dolphins need to add another cornerback, and they’ll likely do so in the draft, adding a young player who should become a core special teams contributor.

SPECIAL TEAMS (3)

P – Brandon Fields

LS – John Denney

K – Dan Carpenter (EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENT)

Returners – Ted Ginn Jr., Davone Bess

Considering Ginn has been on the trade block for a while, it’s possible he could be moved before or during April’s draft. But don’t under estimate his value as a returner, and the fact he’s the only receiver that can stretch the field, keeping safeties honest. Bess was an average returner, which means it would be ideal if the Dolphins select a receiver like Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard or USC’s Damian Williams who brings value as a returner.

So, what Miami Dolphins unit, and vacancy are you most concerned about?

The Steelers allowed 216 yards passing per game their last 9 games of the season, and it’s not like they allowed 3 and 4 TD passes every week. That includes 376 allowed to the Packers but they’re an elite passing team. That game was a shootout the Steelers won 37-36. Take away that game and they allowed less than 200 yards passing per game in 8 of their last 9 games.

So the Steelers secondary was not torched the way everyone seems to think it was. Maybe Ryan Clark wasn’t as bad as many are making him out to be. To me he’s a stop-gap player anyway. The trifecta seems to like veteran safeties who at least know what they’re doing, not just running around out there. If and when the young guys prove that they have the system and the coverages down, you’ll see us go that way.

Hopefully Clemons will progress this year and prove to be a potential future starter.

Okay I go and look at the numbers and take the time to post about the Steelers secondary and Ryan Clark, and he re-signs with Pittsburgh. What happened to your one stop/last stop buddy? Bastard! LOL

He was probably trying to get a payday that didn’t fit his production and we low-balled him. I like that we’re not overpaying for marginal or average talent. I think we learned from Wilford and Wilson.

I firmly believe that if we enter the season with Soliai and a rookie DT playing NT, we’ll be toast. Just phuckin sign Jamal Williams already so Soliai and the rook can continue their growth, learning from a 3X All Pro NT.

Phinmanski, there are probably a handful of mediocre safeties floating around. I don’t think we’re looking for THE guy in FA. Just a veteran to come in and compete with Culver who they like, and Clemons. Then they have the draft and there are a few good prospects there.

It’s not as if we get torn up for 200 yards rushing every week. Our DL was not a problem. The LBs, all of them struggled down the stretch against the run. So did the last line of defense in the secondary. There were some missed tackles. Not just in the passing game, but against RBs too. The LBs and secondary have to play better. The LB core needs more talent. We all know that. We’ll get some people in there to man the nose.

I’m totally in the minority on this but I do not think NT is major priority. Not when the pool isn’t that deep. Just reaching for every guy who has or might be able to play nose isn’t the answer. The Chargers didn’t let Jamal Williams go because he’s a stud that can’t be replaced. Obviously they think they can replace him. So what would we be getting?

However I do think we have to draft a NT prospect or two to groom but we may not see that until the mid and late rounds.

Phinmanski, I said draft one or two and I think we will. I think we had to do that before Fergy’s recent suspension situation. It was 50-50 maybe less that he was coming back anyway. Now it’s 0% at least the first half of the season.

I still think another one of our current Dlinemen is moving inside to play some nose.

Who the phuck is going to groom these kids at NT? And why do the Saints and Bronchoes have an interest in Jamal Williams? We all know why SD cut him: they have MASSIVE salary problems and they WISELY aren’t trying to be “George Steinbrenner” in this uncapped year.

Ferg (I luv him) is old, tired, and embarrarssed… I wouldn’t be surprised if he hung up his spikes.

I luv you like a brother, but do you know how much it would cost us to land Suh? I really don’t think that the Trifecta wants to pay top-3 $$$ when they have a history (Ferg, for example) of drafting 7th round DTs who turn into studs. I’m just sayin, man!

Acquiring elite talent won’t happen without a little pain.
We have some stuff we could package too, either Langford or Merling could be part of a package along with Teddy and other stuff. A QB perhaps.

I see cameron wake playing the weakside linebacker switching with charlie anderson. Wake doesn’t seem like he has the toughness and run stopping ability to play the strong side. Wake fits into the weakside linebacker position because he’s such a great pass rusher. In my opinion, Quinton Moses will be the starting strong side linebacker and we’ll get a chance to see him in training camp. He’s far larger and tougher than Wake. It seems the dolphins want to keep him because they tendered him this past free agency. I just hope we can get a receiver, OLB and NT in the first free rounds of the draft. I was a little disappointed with the second round pick last year when we picked pat white. But the people upstairs are good, these guys know what they’re doing.

miami should draft the linebacker out of Alabama in the first. round, draft a wr later . we could not stop the worst running game in the NFL Houston ,when we need a stop last year. All good teams build defense and the offense will come around.

OMAR KELLY was unsuccessful at achieving his childhood dream to become a super hero, so he figured he'd do the next best thing and become a journalist who fights against injustice, and searches for truth. After being bored to death reporting news and covering politics, he switched to sports.
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IZZY GOULD joined the Sun Sentinel in Feb. 2012 as a Senior Sports Reporter on the Miami Dolphins beat. He came to South Florida fresh off covering the University of Alabama football program, including its 2011 national championship team. More